Scaffold-bracket.



1"; F. HENNESSY.

' SCAFFOLD BRACKET.

, I APPLICATION FILED mm. 2. mn 1,278,925. Patented Sept. 17,1918.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS: INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

7Nl' ummn runs an, Miami-178a wuumo mu. :1. c.

JOHN FRANCIS HENNESSY, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

SCAFFOLD-BRACKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1'7, 191 8.

Application filed March 2, 1917. SeriaLNo. 151,898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN FRANCIS HEN- NESSY, of Duluth, St. Louiscounty, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inScafioldBrackets, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my ,invention 1s to provide an extremely simple and highlyconvenient. scaffold bracket. To this end I aim to provide a bracketwhich may be attached to and detached from the wall of a building withvery little effort, and which, when attached, will not extend to, orinterfere with an y work on, the inside of the wall, and will greatlyfacilitate the work on the outside, by a construction which reduces to aminimum the space of its contact with the wall, and which adapts it tobe folded or swung into a non-interfering position while work is beingdone underneath or about the bracket, and, further, I lessen the expenseof constructing scaffolds by simplifying the construction of the bracketand reducing the number of brackets required, while at the same timeaffording a bracket which will be absolutely safe for staging orscaffolding purposes.

Figure 1, is a side view in elevation of said bracket as it appears whenattached to the building, the dotted lines showing the manner in whichthe brace rod 31, and the rod 35, may be moved or folded together. Fig.2, is a side view of a so-called extensionpiece which may be attached tothe mainbracket to afford support for a wider platform, theextension-piece being shown in folded position. Fig. 3, is a top View ofsaid extension-piece partially unfolded. Fig. 4,

* is a view of the main rod equipped with a lever and spring, and of thelower half of the sleeve 8, having a downwardly extending arm. Fig. 5,is a view of the chain and lever attachment of my improved bracket, theuse of which will be hereafter explained. Fig. 6, a view in elevation ofthe outer end of thc outer bearing 6, showing the side-rods of theextension-piece in cross-section; Fig. 7, is an inner-end view of theinner bearin 7; Fig.8, is an enlarged view of a part 0 the centralportion of the extens1on-p1ece, Fig. 9, is an enlarged view of the upperside of the inner end of the extension-piece; Figs. 10 and 11, are sideelevations of the outer and inner-end portions, respectively, of thehorizontal rod and connected parts with the extension-piece in place inFig. 11; Fig. 12, shows by dotted lines the manner in which the rod 35and brace rod may be swung upward so as not to interfere with work belowthe horizontal rod. Fig. 13, is a view in elevation of a wall of abuilding showing the holes in which the brackets may be attached. Fig.14, is a longitudinal section of one form of construction of the innerend of the horizontal rod, Fig. 15, being an end view thereof in whichthe dotted circle indicates the rod proper and the larger plain circleindicates an end disk or knife, the transverse dotted lines indicatingthat the intermediate knives 23, go only part way around the rod; Fig.16 is a view in cross section of said inner end portion and concavemember on the line a a of Fig. 16; Fig. 16' is a view in cross sectionon the line b b of Fig. 16"; Fig. 16 is a side view of said inner endportion and concave member as it appears from the side opposite fromthat shown in Fig. 18. F1 17 is an end view of said rod the dotted linesindicating the rod proper and the larger circle the knife thereon; Fig.18 is a side view of the inner end portion of the horizontal supportingrod and the hearing or concave member in which it rests, the knivesbeing out of commission. Figs. 19 and 21, are views of opposite sides ofsaid end portion and bearing, the knives being turned into commission,Fig. 20 being an end view and the dotted lines indicating the rodproper. Figs.

and 241 are views of a simplified construction of the inner endmechanism of my bracket. Fi 22 isa view in cross section on the line a aof Fig. 22, and Fig. 23 is an end view of said mechanism. Fig. 25 is aside view of a modification of the concave member and of the horizontalrod. Fig. 25 is a side view of a short knife-bearng rod used in saidconstruction. Fig. 26 1s a sectional view of the concave member shown inFig. 25", and the rod and lever for turning it. Fig. 27 is a side view,and Fig. 28 an'end view, of the concave member with a ring around itsend. Fig. 29 is a view of the inner end portion of the hori zontal rodthreaded instead of being pro vided with knives.

As shown in Fig. 1, one part of my improved bracket has the horizontallyprojecting main rod 1, the inner end of which is adapted to be inserted111 a hole 2, preferably in the studding 3., of the wall 4. Oneimportant feature of my invention isthat this rod haslateralprojections, preferably disks or knives 5, on the inner endportion thereof, by means of which it may be firmly attached in a wall,and that when so attached it does not extend entirely through the wall4. (See Figs. 1 and 4.) These projections may be made and operated inseveral diiierent ways. For example, I may simply thread the inner endportion of said rod with one or more spiral ribs, as in Fig. 29, and, byturning it as hereinafter explained, screw said rod into a hole in thewall made somewhat smaller than the diameter of the threaded end of saidrod; but to avoid the necessity of turning the rod a number of times inorder to at 1T1Cll it, or any other undesirable features that might beconnected with this method of attachment, I may construct the inner endmechanism of said rod in certain other ways shown in detail by thedrawings.

For the present 1 adopt, as the most sinr ple and convenient means ofattaching said rod, the construction shown by Figs. 18 to 24,particularly in Figs. 22 and 24. By reference to Figs. 22 and 24, itwill be seen that the inner end portion of the main rod 1, is providedwith the laterally projecting knives or, blades 5, preferably curyed orcrescent shape in plan view and triangular in cross section, theseblades beingdisposed parallel to one another along the rod near the endthereof and somewhat obliquely to its axis. (See Fig. 23). Said main rod1, is adapted to turn in the bearings 6 and 7, (Fig. 1) and in the boxor sleeve 8, composed of an upper half 9, and a lower half 10, heldtogether by the bolts 11 (see Fig. 24). When the rod is attached to abuild ing, the inner end of the upper half9, of this sleeve ends at thewall 4, but the lower half 10, ofthe sleeve extends inward to a int inclose proximity to the knives 5, and orms a half-box or concave member12, for the shank 13, of the main rod 1. This rod 1, may be turnedeither by means of the lever 14, rigidly attached'tliereto, as in Figs.4 and 18, or said lever 14, may be dispensed with and said rod maysimply be made with flat sides at the point 15, where said lever mightbe attached, (see Fig. 1) and the rod may then be turned 'by means of awrench. If a lever is used, it may be locked in inoperative position, asshown in Fig. 18, by the spring 17, attached to said lever, or bysuitable means, to the arm 18, which extends downward from and is a partof the lower half of the sleeve 8. The diameter of the inner end portionof said main rod 1, with the thickness "of the concave member addedthereto, is preferably somewhat smaller than that of a hole "which maybe bored in the edge of thes'tiidding, so as to allow of easy insertionof said rod andhconca've member in said hole. When the main rod, 1, isin the position shown at Figs. 4, or 18, or 24, the lever 14, itpresent, points upward and the knives rest. in the half-nut 12 but whenturned in said bearings i3 and 7 and in said sleeve 8, one-half of arevolution, more or less, by any of the means just described, theconcave member 12, will resist the downward pressure of the shank 13, ofsaid main rod 1., caused by the eccentric knives coming in contact withthe upper part of the hole 2, and this will cause the said knives 5, tocut then'iselves firmly into the wood of the studding, as shown in Figs.1 and 22. To give said knives 5, a firm hold in the wood, and thusincrease their resisting capacity when pressure or tension is exerted onthe main. rod 1, away from the wall 4, said knives 5, are madetriangular in cross-section, and their outer sides 19, are at rightangles with the red, so that as the knives entor the wood in the mannerdescribed the wood \\'ill be squeezed tightly between them and d.'n\\=:lrd against the body of the rod 1, \Vhen the rod and knives arein the wall and in the position shown in Figs. 19, 21 and 22, theycannot be drawn away from the wall. They may, however, be easilyreleased by simply turning the rod 1, back toits former position. shownin Figs. 4, 18 and 24. The inner end of the upper half 9, of the sleeve8, is made sufiiciently thick to serve as a block or barrier to preventthe rod or sleeve from being pushed too far into the hole 2. The sleeve8, may be made any desired length, but the longer it is made, and thegreater the distance between the wall 4, and the lever 14, the thickermay the wall be built outward from the studding without interference bythe bracket. The sleeve 8, is kept from sliding outward on the rod 1, byits outer end C011l111' in contact with the lever 14, if used, or .y anincreased thickness or collar 20, at the point 15, (Fig. l).

lnstead of extending the concave member 12, inward only to the point.shown inFigs. 22 and 24, and using only circular knives, the concavemember. 12,, may be extended nearly to the i 'ner endof the rod as shownin Figs. 18 an 19, and in such case it is. provided with the cuts or.slits 21, extending transversely from andthro-ugh one of its edgesandsides to a point halfEway around; or more the concave member 12, saidmemher then having somewhat the appearance of a concave comb. When suchabearing is used,"0nly a few knives22, near theextreme endof themain, rod1, which are shaped the sameas the knives 5, in Figs. 22 and 24, will bemade entirely circular in'plan, and the rest of'the knives 23, willextend only. part way around the rod. (See Figs. 19,, 20 21'.) Thecentersof all the circles. of which the knives form apart are eccentriowith respect to the axis of "the rod. 1, so

yielding springs willv autbniatically lock, one 'qneaeb 's 9', over thelug 42, when the extensiqn pieee p s iin q fl th c nterg e ti ef 1 saidjexterisifonigiece will t en rest ()n' the 1B s 45, en e'abhbs" e ofthe: earin" ,6, and it ej end: 46, of 'thejnai I a hole in the lirace Ima d w e f h 'i esi iq ifi tensidn p'iece cannot rise ,cr fallatjeitl erend;

belbw the letie'l' Of the upfe 'hn 0 t 'e m I'Od' S h i Pfi hgd into13,6. on .the while I there" are planks fqn the mairfrpd I, Said extensinpiece, is provided with the braces 47-," whichljare pivetally connectedWiththe inner: pqrtioq; of 'said' extensioni ece "and'are'jad L,PtQ l I;be spfreador foldeg toglether as desired an Whieh wherf'sprea'd Wilfroni InOving 'sidewise. I are piv'otally attaehed to 'said Inainbrages;

Its s r eme Pr f r ai d iiewhe i I. 6 m J f0]ding' 0r extendi I 'said'braces, I m braces are made l'lgl -1n extendedpds t nn Fi%h'2)-. I I I I;e expensefandtrouble Of C0 I 1iISif ,11Lcti scafi'o ld's' aregreatlylessened'by t this bracket, not only by its simple cpns'truc aandadat ability for nick andjea'sy, faittachinent andetachlnentjlintialsp of the fact that'by the ufse of the" leverattachment hereinafter 1d 'sc one extrabrack t, aiid';n '1 (I mes I 1Furjexa 1e, refernn to Fig. 1 3 [we 371i 1% 11 suppose, that the scafi'ois I supgort d, t

brackets at 51,52, wand 54, a it is ae i efii w raise 'it. "The extmbraeket maybejatzj tached at the pcin'tf55, andthenp er end 01 thechainfandlever attachment S than Fig. 5, may then be hooked thereon The;pole 56,, (Fig. has-permanentlyattfiwhfid, to it at 51, a chain 58, biitthe; chalnfiQ, sl'i o'verits end, s0 thatthe plank 6 (),fmay e held onthe pole 56, between the chain s 58,

and 59, and at the same 'ti'mebe held steady by the end of the polecoming in; contact. W-lth the wall 4. Now, by pressing down I ward theouter end of the lever 61, and hoeking it to the'chain 62, by means ofthehbokfi 63, the chains will be tightened, so, as to: raise the plank60, to the pbs'itibnsho'wn by the, dotted lines, and the bracket at51,may then be readily removed and attached at the point 64, (Fig.*13 and aplank may then be laid upon the two' npper brackets. A man stand} ing onsaid plank may then take hold ofthe chain and lever attachment by thehandhold 65 (Fig. 5) and, Walking from the pointfifito'the p0int64, hemay ear the outeriend of the lank 60, by means 0 said." ch-ainan'd-leverattachment, to' a point di- 4 g and hi hth as j;

alsg.

I tween'the peints 66-V and67, tecmn II V prev'ent thefsta'gin pp r cfioldie d.thefp enk res na l i x' l 'ery a i se "66, may be I I chainina be u'nheeked frqmtli'e, point 66,.

andfthe racket a e-545' detached and, the

(S "lower scafr eld thngl; entirely" removed; In,

then climbup the plank up at that end by means of said the cham and, M393 W il w n .ehm a rr a h h a ndi in oi LtheJs aiQ ed andiof' ll nk caried, he fifiafl y" ne remove, thev I e'pl S i e a m lidet tim at; an I'fe' a Qii1t an 1 ha dthe'man o ve a plankipr laying. be tween thep'qintsifi iand 66, o n which above my alk. n again car y h 60, bymemSlQf the chainandle'verv end ng; 'f 'O'm h point 'el' W' carries theother pe ded? pla k and detachesjthe bracket at 53,'f0r,attach,n1entfatthe oint 6X, trans- I plet the one end the at, ajadney g er end Of-Which'is snSPended rojii'the, point used as a lcwer'seafio ldfhr' the,

casejthe' bracket awe; can o he reaches 6 from e gr 'lndr rfq h f h anth r ed;

and lever atta'chrnent ma b, 'nspen from the bracket at "67, to snpp crtthe end of 9 "the plank} efst'ng'bn bracket 54, and after.

the bracketat 54s hasbeen detached, the belovi may'hanl on y' Y V sa ry,'where it-is desired to meve the scafifq'ld, from a lowerto' a' higherlevel or vice yeIi'sa,

, to. the ma b-Qw an the bracket at, 67,, and mill,

attachment-While the other man, p nlls up the other end .b; 'means of'the attachrnent at be agaih' raised in t e same manner if sired,

ing rod ,for, sednring said supporting: rod in 'placein a wall by,lnqtion around its lbn'giI- 1270 tildinalj axis "after insertingan endportion of said suppprtingrqdinm a hele, in said w all'.'

' 2. A scaffoldgbracket,comprisinga plurality of bearings,

i flale in; ai eari gs; a bra e e 1-; nected tjd one of saidv bearings,a' tie rod con; nectedtc one of said bearingsandthe said, brace rd,means on,saidsnpgcrtin rod fcr securing said'supporting r0 bracket at5,2;t bracket at'53, Stage 7 theman '75 e end olf I In some cases,itmight be desirable to 1, insteacL' of connecting 1 10 a brace rod;

a rotatablesupporting-red in p ace in a.

movement, siibstanhally as dscri slh 831181181911 piece comprising p 1moiionaround its ongitddinal axis. er lnser tin g v o t r d 1nto ajhole, in said wall, and

a n the outgr end of said supporting I I ld'ingsaid barsinf parallelalined braces :fm" holding said scafl'old,

d barsragginst laterallg dswaying e Inc9nnection wlth a, scaffoldbracket,

spe ci freeebf dthii fi l half pQrtions, braces rigidly's th thg 1 emiter and-between ".ftlons ofsaidbars, 8 din of lugs on i lel barsslidably mounted extending outwardly be-' r0d,

said extension p pivotally cimhected, to the; of' said barsfand adaptedto and auxiliary braces pivota the intermediate pQrtions braces and, 'd',on f id rune; bars I

